Deadline reported Monday that Scott M. Gimple, a writer on the show since the second season, is "finalizing a deal" to become an executive producer and showrunner. Gimple would be the third person in the show's history in that role, following Mazzara and original showrunner Frank Darabont.
Gimple has also worked on FlashForward, Life and animated series including American Dragon: Jake Long. He's also written comic books, including the currently unfolding Punisher: Nightmare miniseries. (Newsarama talked to Gimple about the series here.)
SNYDER DOES STAR WARS?Vulture took fans by surprise Monday with their unconfirmed report that Zack Snyder — director of 300, Watchmen and this summer's Man of Steel — is developing a Star Wars film. It's said to not be part of the new trilogy (Episodes VII, VIII and IX) but rather a standalone set in the Star Wars universe, loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. (Another Kurosawa film, The Hidden Fortress, has been cited by George Lucas as a major influence on the original Star Wars film, 1977's A New Hope.)
EDIT: Zack Snyder's PR representative has reached out to The Hollywood Reporter to deny the rumor, stating, "While he is super flattered because he is a huge fan, Zack is not involved in any way with the new Star Wars. He is currently in post on his two films, Man of Steel and 300: Battle of Artemisia." THR confirmed that extends to both potential offshoot movies and the planned new trilogy.
NEW MARVEL STUDIOS FILMS IN 3D
In "things you would have assumed anyway" news, Disney has confirmed via a publicity update that 2014's two Marvel Studios films, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, will both be released in 3D. Winter Soldier is out on April 4, 2014; Guardians hits on Aug. 1 of that year.
ASSASSIN'S CREED MOVIE GETS WRITER
The film version of hit video game series Assassin's Creed already has a star — X-Men's Michael Fassbender — and now it has a writer, with Michael Lesslie on board for the adaptation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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